THREE years after the Sunday Express launched its Crusade for Better Mental Health, research reveals public attitudes towards mental illness are now better than they have been for a decade.

Our campaign to end the suffering caused by mental illness has also been echoed across the corridors of Westminster.

Last week, in a highly unusual move, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg put plans for better treatment of mental health conditions at the heart of his annual speech to the Lib Dem party conference.

Reflecting the key message of the Sunday Express’s drive he said: “It is wrong that relatives and friends needing a hip operation can expect treatment within a clear time frame but someone with a debilitating mental health condition has no clarity about when they will get help.”

Three cheers to the Sunday Express for tackling Britain’s biggest taboo

Mr Clegg

Mr Clegg’s speech echoed his backing for our campaign three years ago, when he wrote in our paper: “Three cheers to the Sunday Express for tackling Britain’s biggest taboo.

“Over the coming months the Crusade for Better Mental Health will lift the lid on this hidden suffering. It’s an important wake-up call, reminding us that improving the nation’s mental health is everyone’s business.”

Data just released by the mental health charity Time To Change shows signifi cant progress in public attitudes to mental illness in the past 10 years, with the biggest annual improvement taking place last year.

The charity, run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, also found a 2.8 per cent improvement in attitudes between 2012 and 2013, the biggest annual shift since the fi rst survey 20 years ago.

Yet 49 per cent still said they would feel uncomfortable talking to an employer about their mental health. Sue Baker, director of Time To Change, said: “We are delighted the Sunday Express has continued to campaign to improve attitudes.

“Your paper was bold enough to take a strong stance. It has helped improve public attitudes and bring mental health further up the public and political agenda.”